The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 01, 1994
Filed:
Aug. 20, 1993
Richard F Buswell, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Joseph V Clausi, Portland, CT (US);
Ronald Cohen, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Craig Louie, Vancouver, CA;
David S Watkins, Coquitlam, CA;
Ballard Power Systems Inc., North Vancouver, CA;
Abstract
A power plant system produces utility grade electrical AC power from gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuels using a fuel cell stack employing ion exchange membranes. The fuel is desulfurized, mixed with water, heated and vaporized before being introduced into a reformer. The reformer produces a hydrogen-rich gas which is then directed through a series of heat exchangers, shift converters and a selective oxidizer. The processed fuel stream is combined in the fuel cell stack with a pressurized oxidant stream to generate DC power. Oxidant pressure is supplied by compressors driven by turbines using heated system exhaust gases. The DC power is converted into utility grade AC power using an inverter augmented by a battery peaking unit for rapid load following. The water generated in the fuel cell stack is recycled and used to cool the fuel cell stack and to humidify the fuel stream and oxidant stream prior to their introduction to the fuel cell stack. System integration results in an electrical efficiency of at least about 40%, and with heat recovery the overall fuel efficiency is greater than approximately 80%.